3D printing colorization

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, methods of printing a color 3D article are described herein. In some embodiments, a method described herein comprises receiving data representing a surface colorization of the article, and transforming the data representing the surface colorization of the article into voxel data of the article. The voxel data comprises (a) location values and at least one of (b) color values and (c) transparency values for a plurality of columns of voxels normal or substantially normal to a surface of the article. The method further comprises selectively depositing layers of one or more build materials onto a substrate to form the article in accordance with the voxel data. In addition, at least one column of the plurality of columns of voxels exhibits a surface color resulting from a combination of colors of a plurality of voxels of the column.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/644,621, filed on Mar. 11, 2015, which claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/950,906,filed on Mar. 11, 2014, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/978,795, filed on Apr. 11, 2014, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and materials forthree-dimensional (3D) printing and, in particular, to methods andmaterials for printing color 3D articles or objects.

BACKGROUND

Commercially available 3D printers, such as the ProJet™ 3D Printersmanufactured by 3D Systems of Rock Hill, S.C., use build materials (alsoreferred to as inks in some instances) that are jetted through a printhead as a liquid to form various 3D articles or parts. Other 3D printingsystems also use a build material that is jetted through a print head.In some instances, the build material is solid at ambient temperaturesand converts to liquid at elevated jetting temperatures. In otherinstances, the build material is liquid at ambient temperatures. Stillother 3D printers form 3D articles or objects from a reservoir, vat, orcontainer of a fluid build material or powdered build material. In somecases, a binder material or a laser or other source of energy is used toselectively solidify or consolidate layers of the build material in astepwise fashion to provide the 3D article.

Build materials for 3D printing systems can include one or morecolorants or pigments to provide colored printed parts. However, manysuch build materials are much more highly pigmented than necessary ordesired to provide colored printed parts. Moreover, the presence ofpigments in many build materials can interfere with the jettability,stability, and/or curability of the inks. In addition, the pigment loadof some pigmented build materials can require different types and/oramounts of photoinitiators to obtain appropriate curing of buildmaterials having different colors, which can result in decreasedefficiency and/or increased cost of a 3D printing process.

Moreover, prior methods of printing color 3D articles fail to provide 3Darticles having variation in color with depth from the surface of thearticles, thus limiting the colorization of 3D printed parts.

Therefore, there exists a need for improved methods of color 3D printingand improved build materials for color 3D printing.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, methods of printing a color 3D article are describedherein which, in some embodiments, may provide one or more advantagesover some previous methods of printing a 3D article. For example, insome cases, a method described herein can provide a 3D printed articlehaving a surface colorization in which the observed color is notproduced only by surface pixels of color, such as pixels of color thatmay be dithered or mixed in only two dimensions (x and y) in a surfaceplane. Instead, methods described herein can provide a 3D printedarticle having a surface colorization that results from a combination ofcolor values and/or other visual effects (such as halftoning ordithering) in three dimensions (x, y, and z). In some instances, such asurface colorization can be provided by a thin shell or “skin” ofcolored voxels, including voxels arranged in a plurality of columnsnormal or substantially normal to the surface of the article. A methoddescribed herein, in some cases, can also provide a 3D article having afull-color surface colorization using only a small number of differentlycolored build materials.

A method of printing a 3D article described herein, in some embodiments,comprises receiving data representing the surface colorization of thearticle and transforming the data representing the surface colorizationof the article into voxel data of the article. The voxel data comprises(a) location values and at least one of (b) color values and (c)transparency values for a plurality of columns of voxels normal orsubstantially normal to a surface of the article. Moreover, the methodfurther comprises selectively depositing layers of one or more buildmaterials onto a substrate to form the article in accordance with thevoxel data. Additionally, at least one column of the plurality ofcolumns of voxels can exhibit or provide a surface color that resultsfrom a combination of colors of a plurality of stacked voxels of thecolumn. Further, in some embodiments, a plurality of columns of voxelseach exhibit or provide a surface color resulting from a combination ofvoxels within each column. Moreover, in some cases, the plurality ofcolumns of voxels together provides an appearance to the surface of thearticle that corresponds to the desired surface colorization of thearticle. In addition, in some instances, at least one column of theplurality of columns of voxels includes voxels having different colorvalues and/or different transparency values.

Further, in some embodiments, at least one build material used to forman article according to a method described herein is opticallytransparent or substantially optically transparent. In some cases, atleast one build material used to form the article comprises a compositeink comprising an optically transparent or substantially opticallytransparent carrier ink comprising a curable material, and a colorantdispersed in the carrier ink in an amount of about 0.01 to 5 weight %,based on the total weight of the composite ink. Other build materialsmay also be used.

In another aspect, 3D printed articles are described herein. In someembodiments, such a 3D printed article is provided according to a methoddescribed herein. Thus, in some cases, a 3D printed article describedherein comprises an interior region and a color skin region disposedover the interior region in a z-direction, wherein the color skin regionis defined by a plurality of columns of voxels substantially normal to asurface of the article, and wherein at least one column of the pluralityof columns of voxels exhibits a surface color resulting from acombination of colors of a plurality of voxels of the column. Theinterior region of such an article, in some instances, is black in coloror white in color. An interior region of an article described herein canalso be opaque, translucent, or optically reflective. Moreover, in someembodiments, at least one column of the plurality of columns of voxelsincludes voxels having different color values and/or differenttransparency values. An article described herein can also include anopacity skin region and/or a reflective skin region disposed between thecolor skin region and the interior region of the article in az-direction. Such an opacity region, in some instances, is formed from aplurality of opaque voxels. Similarly, a reflective skin region can beformed from a plurality of reflective voxels.

In still another aspect, build materials for use with a 3D printerand/or 3D printing method are described herein which, in someembodiments, may offer one or more advantages over prior buildmaterials. In some embodiments, for example, a build material describedherein provides printed parts that have improved chroma or chromaticity.In addition, in some cases, a build material described herein is acurable ink having excellent jettability and/or high colloidalstability.

In some embodiments, a build material described herein is a compositeink. A composite ink, in some instances, comprises an opticallytransparent or substantially transparent carrier ink comprising acurable material; and a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink in anamount of about 0.01 to 5 weight %, based on the total weight of thecomposite ink. Further, in some cases, a chroma of the composite ink ata given thickness of the composite ink is within about 20% of a maximumchroma of the colorant in the composite ink. Moreover, the colorant of acomposite ink described herein can be a particulate pigment or amolecular dye. Further, in some embodiments, the carrier ink of acomposite ink described herein has an optical transparency of at leastabout 70% transmission, at least about 80% transmission, or at leastabout 90% transmission between 350 nm and 750 nm, all at a giventhickness, such as a thickness between about 0.01 and 10 mm.Additionally, in some instances, a composite ink described hereinfurther comprises one or more additives selected from the groupconsisting of photoinitiators, inhibitors, stabilizing agents,sensitizers, and combinations thereof.

These and other embodiments are described in greater detail in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a 3D printed article formed accordingto a method of the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a 3D printed article formed accordingto a method of the prior art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a look-up table suitable for use in a method ofprinting a 3D article according to some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a sectional view of an articleaccording to one embodiment described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a sectional view of an articleaccording to one embodiment described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a sectional view of an xy-plane of anexterior surface of article according to one embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a sectional view of an xy-plane of anexterior surface of article according to one embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 8 illustrates plots of chroma versus layer thickness for variouspigments dispersed in a carrier ink according to some embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates plots of optical density versus layer thickness forvarious pigments dispersed in a carrier ink according to someembodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 illustrates plots of lightness versus layer thickness forvarious pigments dispersed in a carrier ink according to someembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein can be understood more readily by referenceto the following detailed description, examples, and drawings. Elements,apparatus and methods described herein, however, are not limited to thespecific embodiments presented in the detailed description, examples,and drawings. It should be recognized that these embodiments are merelyillustrative of the principles of the present invention. Numerousmodifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those of skillin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In addition, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood toencompass any and all subranges subsumed therein. For example, a statedrange of “1.0 to 10.0” should be considered to include any and allsubranges beginning with a minimum value of 1.0 or more and ending witha maximum value of 10.0 or less, e.g., 1.0 to 5.3, or 4.7 to 10.0, or3.6 to 7.9.

All ranges disclosed herein are also to be considered to include the endpoints of the range, unless expressly stated otherwise. For example, arange of “between 5 and 10” should generally be considered to includethe end points 5 and 10.

Further, when the phrase “up to” is used in connection with an amount orquantity, it is to be understood that the amount is at least adetectable amount or quantity. For example, a material present in anamount “up to” a specified amount can be present from a detectableamount and up to and including the specified amount.

The terms “three-dimensional printing system,” “three-dimensionalprinter,” “printing,” and the like generally describe various solidfreeform fabrication techniques for making three-dimensional articles orobjects by selective deposition, jetting, fused deposition modeling,multijet modeling, and other additive manufacturing techniques now knownin the art or that may be known in the future that use a build materialor ink to fabricate three-dimensional objects.

I. Methods of Printing a 3D Article

In one aspect, methods of printing a color 3D article are describedherein which, in some embodiments, may provide one or more advantagesover some previous methods of printing a 3D article. In some cases, amethod of printing described herein can be carried out using a printingsystem such as a ProJet™ 3D Printer manufactured by 3D Systems. However,other 3D printing systems may also be used, and 3D colorization methodsdescribed herein are not limited to the use of a specific 3D printingsystem.

As described hereinabove, prior methods of printing 3D articles fail toprovide 3D articles having variation in voxel color with depth from thesurface of the articles, thus limiting the colorization of 3D printedparts. For example, some prior methods include providing layers ofcolored material with no variation in color with depth. In addition,such layers are often formed with an opaque build material having asingle color. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate two examples of printedarticles formed according to these prior methods. With reference to FIG.1, a printed article (100) includes colored pixels or voxels (denoted inFIG. 1 as C, M, Y, and K for a CMYK colorization scheme) having a depthof only one voxel in the z-direction (depth denoted as d_(z)). Withreference to FIG. 2, a printed article (200) includes three sets ofcolored voxels (denoted in FIG. 2 as G, K, and O for green, black, andorange, respectively). The colored region has a depth in the z-directionof four voxels (d_(z)), but the color of the voxels (G, K, O) does notvary in the z-direction. In contrast to prior methods, methods describedin the present disclosure can provide 3D printed articles having asurface colorization in which the observed color results from acombination of color values and/or other visual effects of voxels inthree dimensions.

In some embodiments, such a method comprises receiving data representingthe surface colorization of the article and transforming the datarepresenting the surface colorization of the article into voxel data ofthe article, the voxel data comprising (a) location values and at leastone of (b) color values and (c) transparency values for a plurality ofcolumns of voxels normal or substantially normal to a surface of thearticle. The method further comprises selectively depositing layers ofone or more build materials onto a substrate to form the article inaccordance with the voxel data.

Turning now to specific steps of methods described herein, methods ofprinting a 3D article described herein include receiving datarepresenting the surface colorization of the article. The “surfacecolorization” of an article, for reference purposes herein, can be acolor pattern or arrangement of colors or colored pixels on a surface.In some cases, the surface colorization is described by atwo-dimensional plot or map of pixels having specific colors. Moreover,the specific colors can be assigned based on any color gamut notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. For example,in some cases, the colors of a surface colorization plot are colors in aRGB, sRGB, CMY, CMYK, L*a*b*, or Pantone® colorization scheme, or acolorization scheme based on one or more of the foregoing, such as anexpanded CMYK colorization scheme including green and orange. Moreover,the surface colorization of an article described herein can correspondto colorization perceived by the ordinary human eye or other detector ofcolor when the surface of the article is observed. Additionally, thesurface colorization of an article described herein can include visualeffects or color effects such as halftoning or dithering of colors. Thesurface colorization of an article described herein may also be adiscrete or pixelated colorization or a continuous colorization.

Further, data representing the surface colorization of an article can begenerated and/or received in any manner not inconsistent with theobjectives of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, for instance,the data is received from a computer that is part of a 3D printingsystem. The computer can include a processor and a memory storingcomputer-readable program code portions that, in response to executionby the processor, cause instructions to be provided to one or morecomponents of the 3D printing system for carrying out a method describedherein. Further, the data representing the surface colorization of thearticle can be part of an image of the article in a computer readableformat, such as a computer assisted design (CAD) format. Other formatsmay also be used. The data representing the surface colorization mayalso be provided as a separate image (including a separate image in acomputer readable format), separate from an uncolored image of thearticle. Moreover, it is also possible, in some cases, to receive thedata representing the surface colorization of an article from a cameraor other image scanner. Surface colorization data may be received inother manners as well, and the scope of the present disclosure is notnecessarily limited to a specific manner in which surface colorizationdata is received. Further, the surface colorization data may be receivedprior to, simultaneous with, or after one or more rendering or slicingsteps are carried out.

Methods described herein also comprise transforming surface colorizationdata into voxel data. Further, the voxel data comprises (a) locationvalues and at least one of (b) color values and (c) transparency valuesfor a plurality of columns of voxels normal or substantially normal to asurface of the article. A “column” of voxels, as described furtherherein, can refer to a stack of single voxels disposed one on top of theother in a z-direction normal or substantially normal to a surface ofthe article proximate the column of voxels. A direction that is“substantially” normal or perpendicular to a surface, plane, or toanother direction, for reference purposes herein, is within about 15degrees, within about 10 degrees, or within about 5 degrees of thenormal direction.

“Location” values for a column of voxels can comprise three-dimensionalcoordinate values for the center of one or more voxels within thecolumn. Typically, the location values for a column of voxels includecoordinate values for every voxel in the column. The location values canbe in any format not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. For example, the location values can be (x, y, z) valuescorresponding to the centers of the voxels of the column. Additionally,at least some location values for a column of voxels can be relative toother voxels in the column. For instance, in some cases, the locationvalues include an ordering of “layers” of voxels in the column in thez-direction. Other location values may also be used.

Similarly, “color” values for a column of voxels can comprise colorvalues for one voxel or more than one voxel within the column.Typically, the color values for a column of voxels include color valuesfor all of the voxels in the column. In addition, the color values canbe color values according to any colorization scheme not inconsistentwith the objectives of the present disclosure, such as a RGB, sRGB, CMY,CMYK, L*a*b*, or Pantone® colorization scheme. Moreover, the colorvalues, in some cases, are color values in the same colorization schemeas the data representing the surface colorization of the article. Inother instances, the color values are in a different colorization schemethan the data representing the surface colorization of the article.

“Transparency” values for a column of voxels can comprise transparencyvalues for one voxel or more than one voxel within the column.Typically, the transparency values for a column of voxels includetransparency values for all of the voxels in the column. In addition,the transparency values can be transparency values according to anytransparency-denoting scheme not inconsistent with the objectives of thepresent disclosure. For example, in some cases, transparency values arevalues between 0 (full transparency) and 1 (full opacity) on an “alpha”scale. Transparency values of voxel data can also correspond to theoptical transparency of the voxel (or the material used to form thevoxel) to light having a wavelength between about 350 nm and about 750nm. For example, a voxel may have an optical transparency of less thanabout 30% transmission, less than about 50% transmission, less thanabout 70% transmission, greater than about 70% transmission, greaterthan about 80% transmission, greater than about 90% transmission, about70-80% transmission, about 80-90% transmission, or about 90-100%transmission of incident light between 350 nm and 750 nm over thethickness of the voxel or over some other given thickness, such as athickness between about 0.01 and 10 mm, between about 0.2 and 1 mm,between about 0.3 and 0.8 mm, between about 1 and 10 mm, between about 1and 5 mm, or between about 5 and 10 mm.

As described further hereinbelow, transforming surface colorization datadescribed herein into voxel data described herein can permit a desiredsurface appearance of the article to be achieved by printing voxels ofbuild material or other material corresponding to the voxel data.Moreover, surface colorization data can be transformed into voxel datain any manner not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. For instance, in some cases, surface colorization data istransformed into voxel data by mapping n voxels having various location,color, and transparency values into columns of voxels in such a manneras to provide a desired observed color or color output from each columnof voxels. In some embodiments, surface colorization data is transformedinto voxel data using a look-up table. FIG. 3 illustrates a portion ofone non-limiting example of a look-up table that may be used fortransforming surface colorization data into voxel data. With referenceto FIG. 3, RGB color values for various red tints are provided in thepartial look-up table as “requested 3D part colors.” These “requested”part colors can correspond to a color “requested” in a particularlocation to provide a specific surface colorization of the article. Foreach “requested” tint in the table, a column of voxels having 8 layersis provided that would produce the desired tint of red. In the portionof the look-up table illustrated in FIG. 3, “M” represents a translucentmagenta voxel, “Y” represents a translucent yellow voxel, and “CL”represents a translucent non-colored (or “clear”) voxel. A “translucent”voxel, in some embodiments, can refer to a voxel having a transparencyvalue corresponding to at least about 30%, at least about 40%, at leastabout 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%,at least about 85%, or at least about 90% transmission of incident lightbetween 350 nm and 750 nm at a voxel thickness or optical path length of0.2-1 mm, 0.3-0.8 mm, or 1-5 mm. The location values for the voxels inthe z-direction are represented by the layer designations. For example,a voxel in Layer 1 is farther from the article surface in thez-direction than a voxel in Layer 2, such that Layer 2 is disposed“over” Layer 1. The location values for the voxels in the x- andy-directions are assumed to be identical for a given column of voxels,such that the voxels are perfectly or substantially perfectly aligned inthe xy-plane.

Again with reference to FIG. 3, the look-up table can be used in amethod described herein as follows. If, for instance, surfacecolorization data calls for a color in a specific location having RGBcolor values of R=255, G=0, and B=0, this portion of the surfacecolorization data can be transformed into voxel data corresponding to acolumn of voxels having 8 layers of stacked voxels, wherein the layerscomprise voxels having translucent transparency values and alternatingmagenta and yellow color values, as shown in the first row of thelook-up table illustrated in FIG. 3. Other RGB color values can beobtained in a similar manner. In the event that surface colorizationdata calls for a color having color values that are not preciselyprovided for in the look-up table, the called-for color can be mapped tothe closest color available in the look-up table. Further, it is to beunderstood that the table of FIG. 3 is a partial table, and thatadditional colors and tints may also be included in a look-up tablesimilar to that illustrated in FIG. 3.

Moreover, in some cases, a look-up table can include more than one setof voxel data for a specific “requested 3D part color.” For example,FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an article (400) comprising a pluralityof columns (410) of voxels (420), each column (410) including 8 layers(430) of voxels (420) and each column (410) producing the same surfacecolor value (440). In the embodiment of FIG. 4, each column (410) ofvoxels (420) provides a light cyan surface color (440, represented as aplume of observed color) through the combination of “clear” voxels (421,represented as lighter squares) and translucent cyan-colored voxels(422, represented as darker squares). The placement of the clear voxels(421) vary among the columns (410), in one instance being disposedbeneath the cyan voxels (422), in one instance being disposed above thecyan voxels (422), in one instance being disposed between the cyanvoxels (422), and in other cases being disposed in a combination of theforegoing positions. In general, it should be noted that a “clear” voxeldescribed herein can be used to “fill in the blanks” of a ditheringand/or halftoning pattern in the z-direction, where the pattern itselfis defined by colored voxels. For instance, if a desired dithering orhalftoning pattern calls for only three colored voxels to provide adesired surface color, then any remaining voxels within the column(e.g., four remaining voxels in a 7-layer column) can be clear voxels.

In some embodiments described herein, adjacent columns of voxelsproviding the same surface color have differing combinations of voxelsin the z-direction (such as shown in FIG. 4). Providing the same colorwith differing arrangements of voxels in adjacent columns of voxels may,in some cases, reduce or eliminate the perception of high frequencypatterning. More generally, the arrangement of voxels in a specificcolumn used to provide a desired surface color can be selected based onachieving or avoiding a specific visual effect, such as a high frequencypatterning effect or a shimmering effect.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the 3D printed article (400) isdepicted in a sectional view. It is to be understood that columns (410)of voxels (420) can also be present in sections or slices of the article(410) not depicted.

In general, columns of voxels described herein can comprise any desiredcombination of individual voxels not inconsistent with the objectives ofthe present disclosure. As described above, the characteristics andarrangement of voxels within a column or within a plurality of columnscan provide different surface colors or other visual effects to aspecific surface pixel or to a larger region of a surface. In somecases, at least one column of voxels includes voxels having differentcolor values and/or different transparency values. Moreover, in someembodiments, a plurality of columns of voxels includes voxels havingdifferent color values and/or different transparency values compared toother voxels within the column. For example, in some instances, one ormore columns of voxels include both translucent voxels and opaquevoxels. An opaque voxel, in some embodiments, transmits no more thanabout 10%, no more than about 20%, or no more than about 30% of incidentlight through the voxel or through a given thickness (such as 0.01-10mm, 0.1-1 mm, or 1 cm) of the material used to form the opaque voxel. Insome cases, an opaque voxel transmits less than about 5% of incidentlight through the voxel or over a given thickness or path length (suchas 0.01-10 mm, 0.1-1 mm, or 1 cm) of the material used to form thevoxel. Further, the incident light can comprise visible light, such aslight having a wavelength from about 350 nm to about 750 nm, from about400 nm to about 700 nm, from about 450 nm to about 500 nm, from about450 nm to about 550 nm, from about 500 nm to about 570 nm, from about500 nm to about 600 nm, from about 600 nm to about 650 nm, from about600 nm to about 700 nm, or from about 650 nm to about 750 nm.Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more columns of voxels includecolored voxels and non-colored voxels. As described further hereinbelow,a colored voxel can be formed from a build material comprising one ormore colorants. Similarly, a non-colored voxel can be formed from abuild material that does not include a colorant.

Further, in some cases, a column of voxels can comprise a plurality ofcolored voxels having the same color value. In such an instance, theplurality of colored voxels can be combined to achieve a desired colorsaturation. For instance, in some embodiments, 12 voxels within the samecolumn of voxels can each provide 1/12^(th) of the desired colorsaturation for the surface color exhibited by the column. Otherdistributions of color saturation within voxels of a column are alsopossible. In general, to achieve a color saturation of n, a plurality ofvoxels can be combined in a column, wherein the plurality of voxels eachcontributes a color saturation of less than n, such as a colorsaturation of 1/n. In this manner, a desired, stronger color saturationcan be achieved by stacking lighter colored or less saturated voxels ina column in a manner described herein.

Additionally, a column of voxels can comprise a plurality of voxels,included colored voxels, having the same or substantially the samelocation values in the x- and y-directions but differing location valuesin the z-direction. Such voxels in a column can thus be aligned orsubstantially aligned in the x- and y-directions and stacked in thez-direction. Voxels that are “substantially” aligned in the x- andy-directions, for reference purposes herein, can have x and y values(for the centers of the voxels) that differ by less than 0.5 voxellengths, less than 0.3 voxel lengths, less than 0.2 voxel lengths, lessthan 0.1 voxel lengths, less than 0.05 voxel lengths, or less than 0.01voxel lengths in each of the x- and y-directions, where the “voxellength” in the x- and y-directions is the average size of the voxels ofthe column in the x- and y-directions, respectively. In some instances,substantially aligned voxels differ by 0-0.4 voxel lengths, 0-0.2 voxellengths, 0-0.1 voxel lengths, 0.01-0.15 voxel lengths, 0.01-0.1 voxellengths, or 0.01-0.05 voxel lengths in the x- and y-directions. Columnscomprising such aligned or substantially voxels, in some cases, canprovide surface colors having improved color fidelity and/or improvedcolor uniformity.

As described hereinabove, at least one column of a plurality of columnsof voxels can exhibit a surface color resulting from a combination ofcolors of a plurality of voxels of the column. In some cases, more thanone column of voxels exhibits a surface color resulting from acombination of colors of a plurality of voxels of the column. Further,the plurality of columns of voxels (through the combination, mixing,dithering, and/or halftoning of colors in the x, y, and z dimensions)can provide an appearance to a surface of the 3D printed article thatcorresponds to the surface colorization data of the article. Moreover,in such cases, the color match between the surface color provided by agiven column of voxels (or by a plurality of columns of voxels) and thecorresponding surface colorization of the article can be high. Colormatch, in some cases, can be an in-gamut color match or a color matchbased on an International Color Consortium (ICC) profile or standard orICC transformation. A color match may also be based on a SWOP(Specifications for Web Offset Publications) specification. Further, insome embodiments described herein, different colored voxels and/or buildmaterials used to form the voxels can provide a wide color gamut.

In some instances, a plurality of columns of voxels described hereindefines a color skin region of the article. Such a “color skin” regioncan be a region of the article proximate the surface of the article thatprovides a desired colorization, color pattern, or other visual effect.Moreover, a color skin region of an article described herein can beformed from one or more build materials comprising one or morecolorants, as described further herein.

A color skin region of an article described herein can have any depth orthickness not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. In some instances, a color skin region has a depth orthickness of at least two voxels in the z-direction. In some cases, acolor skin region has a depth or thickness of 2-32 voxels, 2-24 voxels,2-16 voxels, 4-32 voxels, 4-24 voxels, or 4-16 voxels. Other depths orthicknesses are also possible. Further, in some cases, the total depthor thickness of the color skin region is between about 0.03 mm and about3 mm, between about 0.05 mm and about 2.5 mm, or between about 0.05 mmand about 2 mm. The thickness or depth of a color skin region describedherein can be selected based on a desired color level and/or a desiredcolor profile of the article in the z-direction.

In addition, in some embodiments, a color skin region described hereinis formed over an opacity skin region of the article. It is to beunderstood that a color skin region of an article that is formed “over”another region of the article, such as an opacity skin region, ispositioned closer to the surface of the article in a z-direction normalor substantially normal to the surface. Moreover, in some cases, anopacity skin region can comprise a continuous opaque region within theinterior of the article. Such an opacity skin region can be formed froma plurality of opaque voxels, including a plurality of continuous opaquevoxels, such as a continuous layer or shell of opaque voxels. Further,the opacity skin region of an article, when present, can have anydesired depth or thickness not inconsistent with the objectives of thepresent disclosure. In some cases, an opacity skin region has a depth orthickness of at least two voxels in the z-direction. In some instances,an opacity skin region has a depth or thickness of 2-32 voxels, 2-24voxels, 2-16 voxels, 4-32 voxels, 4-24 voxels, or 4-16 voxels. Theformation of an opacity skin region according to a method describedherein, in some embodiments, can provide a generally opaque 3D printedarticle that nevertheless exhibits surface colorization based on acombination of voxels in the z-direction in a manner described herein.

Similarly, in some embodiments, a color skin region described herein isformed over a reflective skin region of the article. A reflective skinregion can comprise a continuous reflective region within the interiorof the article, where a “reflective” region reflects at least about 20%,at least about 30%, at least about 50%, or at least about 70% ofincident radiation, including at visible wavelengths of light. Such areflective skin region can be formed from a plurality of reflectivevoxels, including a plurality of continuous reflective voxels, such as acontinuous layer or shell of reflective voxels. Further, the reflectiveskin region of an article, when present, can have any desired thicknessnot inconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. In somecases, a reflective skin region has a thickness of at least two voxelsin the z-direction. In some instances, a reflective skin region has athickness of 2-32 voxels, 2-24 voxels, 2-16 voxels, 4-32 voxels, 4-24voxels, or 4-16 voxels.

In addition, it is also possible, in some cases, for a color skin regionof an article to be formed over an interior region of the article thatis not an opacity skin region or a reflective skin region. However, likean opacity skin region or reflective skin region, the color and/ortransparency of an interior region of an article can affect the surfaceappearance of the article. For example, in some instances, the interiorregion of an article is black in color or white in color, resulting in adarkening or lightening effect, respectively, of the colorization of theoverlying color skin region. The interior region can also benon-colored. Further, the interior region can be opaque or translucent,as desired. It is to be understood that an interior region of an articlecan be formed from voxels that are not part of the color skin region,opacity skin region, or reflective skin region. In addition, in somecases, the interior region is at least 0.5 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 2mm, at least 3 mm, or at least 4 mm beneath the exterior surface of thearticle.

Aspects of the present disclosure have been described herein withreference to voxels. It is to be understood that a “voxel” describedherein can be any desired size, as desired or needed for a given visualeffect, provided the 3D printing system used to form the voxel iscapable of providing voxels of the desired size. The size of a voxel canalso correspond to a volume of build material associated with a printingresolution or feature resolution of a 3D printing system used to carryout a method described herein. The “feature resolution” of an article orsystem, for reference purposes herein, can be the smallest controllablephysical feature size of the article. The feature resolution of anarticle can be described in terms of a unit of distance such as microns(μm), or in terms of dots per inch (dpi). As understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, a higher feature resolution corresponds to ahigher dpi value but a lower distance value in μm. In some cases, anarticle formed by a method described herein can have a featureresolution of about 500 μm or less, about 200 μm or less, about 100 μmor less, or about 50 μm or less. In some embodiments, an article has afeature resolution between about 50 μm and about 500 μm, between about50 μm and about 200 μm, between about 50 μm and about 100 μm, or betweenabout 100 μm and about 200 μm. Correspondingly, in some instances, anarticle described herein has a feature resolution of at least about 100dpi, at least about 200 dpi, at least about 250 dpi, at least about 400dpi, or at least about 500 dpi. In some cases, the feature resolution ofan article is between about 100 dpi and about 600 dpi, between about 100dpi and about 250 dpi, or between about 200 dpi and about 600 dpi. Insome instances, a voxel described herein has a volume corresponding tothe product of the feature resolution (in distance units such asmicrons) and the layer thickness provided by the 3D printing system. Insome embodiments, one or more layers of build material have a thicknessof about 0.03 to about 5 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 to about 3 mm, athickness of about 0.03 to about 1 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 toabout 0.5 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.3 mm, a thickness ofabout 0.03 to about 0.2 mm, a thickness of about 0.05 to about 5 mm, athickness of about 0.05 to about 1 mm, a thickness of about 0.05 toabout 0.5 mm, a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.3 mm, or a thicknessof about 0.05 to about 0.2 mm. Other thicknesses are also possible.

Methods of printing a 3D article described herein comprise selectivelydepositing layers of one or more build materials onto a substrate toform the article in accordance with voxel data generated by the method.Layers of one or more build materials can be deposited in any manner notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. In addition,any build materials not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure may be used in a method described herein.

In some instances, at least one build material used to form an articlein a manner described herein is optically transparent or substantiallyoptically transparent, including at visible wavelengths of light. A“substantially” optically transparent build material, for referencepurposes herein, has an optical transparency of at least about 70%transmission for a given wavelength or wavelength range at a giventhickness, such as a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1mm, about 0.3 to 0.8 mm, about 1 to 10 mm, about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5to 10 mm. In some embodiments, a build material described herein has anoptical transparency of at least about 80% transmission, at least about90% transmission, or at least about 95% transmission between about 350nm and about 750 nm, at a given thickness, such as a thickness of about0.01 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1 mm, about 0.3 to 0.8 mm, about 1 to 10 mm,about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5 to 10 mm. In some cases, a build materialhas a transparency of at least about 98% or at least about 99%transmission between about 350 nm and about 750 nm, at a giventhickness, such as a thickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1mm, about 0.3 to 0.8 mm, about 1 to 10 mm, about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5to 10 mm. Moreover, in some instances, a build material described hereinhas an optical transparency between about 70% and about 95%, betweenabout 80% and about 99.99%, or between about 90% and about 95%transmission at wavelengths between about 350 nm and about 750 nm, at agiven thickness, such as a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1 mm,about 0.3 to 0.8 mm, about 1 to 10 mm, about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5 to 10mm.

Non-limiting examples of build materials suitable for use in someembodiments of methods described herein are provided in Section IIhereinbelow. Other build materials may also be used. In some cases, abuild material comprises a glass or plastic material, such as a sinteredor melted glass or plastic. Moreover, such build materials can becolored build materials comprising one or more colorants, such as one ormore colorants described in Section II hereinbelow.

Further, in some embodiments, a plurality of differently colored buildmaterials are used to form a 3D printed article according to a methoddescribed herein. Moreover, in some cases, a relatively small number ofdifferently colored build materials can be used for full-color 3Dprinting according to a method described herein, where “full-color” 3Dprinting can include 3D printing of articles having colors that span allor substantially all of the color gamut of a given colorization schemesuch as a colorization scheme described hereinabove. In some instances,full-color printing can be achieved using a method described hereinusing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 differently colored build materials. In somecases, more than 8 differently colored build materials are used. In someembodiments, two differently colored build materials are used in amethod described herein. In some embodiments using a plurality ofdifferently colored build materials, the different build materials areused to individually form individual voxels described herein.

Further, the layers of build material can be deposited according to animage of the 3D article in a computer readable format. In someembodiments, the build material is deposited according to preselectedcomputer aided design (CAD) parameters. Moreover, in some cases, one ormore layers of build material described herein have a thickness of about0.03 to about 5 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 to about 3 mm, a thicknessof about 0.03 to about 1 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.5 mm,a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.3 mm, a thickness of about 0.03 toabout 0.2 mm, a thickness of about 0.05 to about 5 mm, a thickness ofabout 0.05 to about 1 mm, a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.5 mm, athickness of about 0.05 to about 0.3 mm, or a thickness of about 0.05 toabout 0.2 mm. Other thicknesses are also possible.

Further, in some cases, the substrate of a method described hereincomprises a build pad of a 3D printing system. The substrate of a methoddescribed herein can also comprise a previous layer of depositedmaterial.

Additionally, it is to be understood that methods of printing a 3Darticle described herein can include so-called “multijet” 3D printingmethods. For example, in some instances, a multijet method of printing a3D article comprises selectively depositing layers of one or more buildmaterials described herein in a fluid state onto a substrate, such as abuild pad of a 3D printing system. In addition, in some embodiments, amethod described herein further comprises supporting at least one of thelayers of the one or more build materials with a support material. Anysupport material not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure may be used.

When a curable build material is used, a method described herein canalso comprise curing the layers of the one or more build materials. Forexample, in some instances, a method of printing a 3D article describedherein further comprises subjecting the one or more build materials toelectromagnetic radiation of sufficient wavelength and intensity to curethe one or more build materials, where curing can comprise polymerizingone or more polymerizable moieties or functional groups of one or morecomponents of the one or more build materials. In some cases, a layer ofdeposited build material is cured prior to the deposition of another oradjacent layer of build material.

Further, in some embodiments, a preselected amount of one or more buildmaterials described herein is heated to the appropriate temperature andjetted through the print head or a plurality of print heads of asuitable inkjet printer to form a layer on a print pad in a printchamber. In some cases, each layer of build material is depositedaccording to the preselected CAD parameters. A suitable print head todeposit one or more build materials, in some embodiments, is apiezoelectric print head. Additional suitable print heads for thedeposition of one or more build materials and support material describedherein are commercially available from a variety of ink jet printingapparatus manufacturers. For example, Xerox, Hewlett Packard, or Ricohprint heads may also be used in some instances.

Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more build materials describedherein remain substantially fluid upon deposition. Alternatively, inother instances, a build material exhibits a phase change upondeposition and/or solidifies upon deposition. Moreover, in some cases,the temperature of the printing environment can be controlled so thatthe jetted droplets of a build material solidify on contact with thereceiving surface. In other embodiments, the jetted droplets of a buildmaterial do not solidify on contact with the receiving surface,remaining in a substantially fluid state. Additionally, in someinstances, after each layer is deposited, the deposited material isplanarized and cured with electromagnetic (e.g., UV) radiation prior tothe deposition of the next layer. Optionally, several layers can bedeposited before planarization and curing, or multiple layers can bedeposited and cured followed by one or more layers being deposited andthen planarized without curing. Planarization corrects the thickness ofone or more layers prior to curing the material by evening the dispensedmaterial to remove excess material and create a uniformly smooth exposedor flat up-facing surface on the support platform of the printer. Insome embodiments, planarization is accomplished with a wiper device,such as a roller, which may be counter-rotating in one or more printingdirections but not counter-rotating in one or more other printingdirections. In some cases, the wiper device comprises a roller and awiper that removes excess material from the roller. Further, in someinstances, the wiper device is heated. It should be noted that theconsistency of the jetted build material described herein prior tocuring, in some embodiments, should desirably be sufficient to retainits shape and not be subject to excessive viscous drag from theplanarizer.

Moreover, a support material, when used, can be deposited in a mannerconsistent with that described hereinabove for the one or more buildmaterials. The support material, for example, can be deposited accordingto the preselected CAD parameters such that the support material isadjacent or continuous with one or more layers of build material. Jetteddroplets of the support material, in some embodiments, solidify orfreeze on contact with the receiving surface. In some cases, thedeposited support material is also subjected to planarization.

Layered deposition of the one or more build materials and supportmaterial can be repeated until the 3D article has been formed. In someembodiments, a method of printing a 3D article further comprisesremoving the support material from the one or more build materials.

II. Build Materials for 3D Printing

In another aspect, build materials for use with a 3D printer and/or in amethod of printing 3D articles are described herein. Such buildmaterials, in some instances, are jettable build materials suitable foruse with a multijet 3D printing method and/or system. Additionally, insome embodiments, a build material comprises a composite ink. Acomposite ink described herein, in some cases, comprises an opticallytransparent or substantially transparent carrier ink comprising acurable material; and a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink in anamount of about 0.01 to 5 weight %, based on the total weight of thecomposite ink. In some embodiments, the colorant is present in thecarrier ink in an amount between about 0.01 and 3 weight %, betweenabout 0.01 and 1 weight %, between about 0.05 and 5 weight %, betweenabout 0.05 and 3 weight %, between about 0.05 and 1 weight %, betweenabout 0.1 and 5 weight %, between about 0.1 and 3 weight %, or betweenabout 0.1 and 1 weight %.

Further, in some cases, a chroma of the composite ink at a giventhickness of the composite ink is within about 20%, within about 15%,within about 10%, or within about 5% of a maximum chroma of the colorantin the composite ink. The “chroma” of a composite ink or colorant, forreference purposes herein, refers to the radial component of the polarcoordinates of the color of the composite ink or colorant inchromaticity space, such as the CIE 1931 chromaticity space. Further, insome embodiments, a maximum chroma of a composite ink or colorant can bea function of the thickness of the composite ink, including thethickness of a layer formed by the composite ink in a manner describedherein. Thus, in some embodiments, the colorant loading of a compositeink described herein can be selected to maximize the chroma of thecomposite ink, including for a specific desired layer thickness of thecomposite ink.

Moreover, the colorant of a composite ink described herein can be aparticulate colorant, such as a particulate pigment, or a molecularcolorant, such as a molecular dye. Any such particulate or molecularcolorant not inconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosuremay be used. In some cases, for instance, the colorant of a compositeink comprises an inorganic pigment, such as TiO₂ and ZnO. In someembodiments, the colorant of a composite ink comprises a colorant foruse in a RGB, sRGB, CMY, CMYK, L*a*b*, or Pantone® colorization scheme.Moreover, in some cases, a particulate colorant described herein has anaverage particle size of less than 500 nm, such as an average particlesize of less than 400 nm, less than 300 nm, less than 250 nm, less than200 nm, or less than 150 nm. In some instances, a particulate coloranthas an average particle size of 50-1000 nm, 50-500 nm, 50-400 nm, 50-300nm, 50-200 nm, 70-500 nm, 70-300 nm, 70-250 nm, or 70-200 nm.

Further, in some embodiments, the carrier ink of a composite inkdescribed herein can have a high optical transparency, including in thevisible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, forinstance, the carrier ink has an optical transparency of at least about70% transmission, at least about 80% transmission, at least about 90%transmission, or at least about 95% transmission between about 350 nmand about 750 nm, at a given thickness, such as a thickness of about0.01 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1 mm, about 0.3 to 0.8 mm, about 1 to 10 mm,about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5 to 10 mm. In some cases, a carrier ink has atransparency of at least about 98% or at least about 99% transmissionbetween about 350 nm and about 750 nm, at a given thickness, such as athickness of about 0.01 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1 mm, about 0.3 to 0.8mm, about 1 to 10 mm, about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5 to 10 mm. Moreover, insome instances, a carrier ink described herein has an opticaltransparency between about 70% and about 95%, between about 80% andabout 99.99%, or between about 90% and about 95% transmission atwavelengths between about 350 nm and about 750 nm, at a given thickness,such as a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm, about 0.2 to 1 mm, about 0.3 to 0.8mm, about 1 to 10 mm, about 1 to 5 mm, or about 5 to 10 mm. Carrier inkshaving an optical transparency described herein can facilitate use ofthe composite inks in 3D printing colorization processes wherein theperceived color of a 3D printed article is based on the dithering orhalftoning of discrete colors in the z-direction of the part, which isorthogonal to the surface of the part, rather than in the x- andy-directions along the surface of the part.

In addition, carrier inks described herein comprise a curable material.The curable material can be present in the carrier ink in any amount notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. In somecases, the curable material is present in an amount up to about 99weight %, up to about 95 weight %, up to about 90 weight %, or up toabout 80 weight %, based on the total weight of the carrier ink. In somecases, a composite ink described herein comprises about 10-95 weight %curable material, based on the total weight of the carrier ink. In someembodiments, a carrier ink comprises about 20-80 weight % curablematerial, about 30-70 weight % curable material, or about 70-90 weight %curable material.

Moreover, any curable material not inconsistent with the objectives ofthe present disclosure may be used. In some cases, a curable materialcomprises one or more polymerizable components. A “polymerizablecomponent,” for reference purposes herein, comprises a component thatcan be polymerized or cured to provide a 3D printed article or object.Polymerizing or curing can be carried out in any manner not inconsistentwith the objectives of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, forinstance, polymerizing or curing comprises irradiating withelectromagnetic radiation having sufficient energy to initiate apolymerization or cross-linking reaction. For instance, in someembodiments, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be used.

Further, any polymerizable component not inconsistent with theobjectives of the present disclosure may be used. In some embodiments, apolymerizable component comprises a monomeric chemical species, such asa chemical species having one or more functional groups or moieties thatcan react with the same or different functional groups or moieties ofanother monomeric chemical species to form one or more covalent bonds,such as in a polymerization reaction. A polymerization reaction, in someembodiments, comprises a free radical polymerization, such as thatbetween points of unsaturation, including points of ethylenicunsaturation. In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprisesat least one ethyleneically unsaturated moiety, such as a vinyl group orallyl group. In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprises anoligomeric chemical species capable of undergoing additionalpolymerization, such as through one or more points of unsaturation asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, a polymerizable componentcomprises one or more monomeric chemical species and one or moreoligomeric chemical species described herein. A monomeric chemicalspecies and/or an oligomeric chemical species described herein can haveone polymerizable moiety or a plurality of polymerizable moieties.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprises one or morephoto-polymerizable or photo-curable chemical species. Aphoto-polymerizable chemical species, in some embodiments, comprises aUV-polymerizable chemical species. In some embodiments, a polymerizablecomponent is photo-polymerizable or photo-curable at wavelengths rangingfrom about 300 nm to about 400 nm. Alternatively, in some embodiments, apolymerizable component is photo-polymerizable at visible wavelengths ofthe electromagnetic spectrum.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component described hereincomprises one or more species of (meth)acrylates. As used herein, theterm “(meth)acrylate” includes acrylate or methacrylate or mixtures orcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, a polymerizable componentcomprises an aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate oligomer, a urethane(meth)acrylate resin, and/or an acrylate amine oligomeric resin, such asEBECRYL 7100. In some embodiments, a UV polymerizable or curable resinor oligomer can comprise any methacrylate or acrylate resin whichpolymerizes in the presence of a free radical photoinitiator, isthermally stable in an exposed state for at least one week at a jettingtemperature and for at least 4 weeks in an enclosed state, and/or has aboiling point greater than the jetting temperature. In some embodiments,a polymerizable component has a flash point above the jettingtemperature.

Urethane (meth)acrylates suitable for use in inks described herein, insome embodiments, can be prepared in a known manner, typically byreacting a hydroxyl-terminated urethane with acrylic acid or methacrylicacid to give the corresponding urethane (meth)acrylate, or by reactingan isocyanate-terminated prepolymer with hydroxyalkyl acrylates ormethacrylates to give the urethane (meth)acrylate. Suitable processesare disclosed, inter alia, in EP-A 114 982 and EP-A 133 908. The weightaverage molecular weight of such (meth)acrylate oligomers is generallyin the range from about 400 to 10,000, or from about 500 to 7,000.Urethane (meth)acrylates are also commercially available from theSARTOMER Company under the product names CN980, CN981, CN975 and CN2901,or from Bomar Specialties Co. (Winsted, Conn.) under the product nameBR-741. In some embodiments described herein, a urethane (meth)acrylateoligomer has a dynamic viscosity ranging from about 140,000 cP to about160,000 cP at about 50° C. or from about 125,000 cP to about 175,000 cPat about 50° C. when measured in a manner consistent with ASTM D2983. Insome embodiments described herein, a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomerhas a viscosity ranging from about 100,000 cP to about 200,000 cP atabout 50° C. or from about 10,000 cP to about 300,000 cP at about 50° C.when measured in a manner consistent with ASTM D2983.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprises one or more lowmolecular weight materials, such as methacrylates, dimethacrylates,triacrylates, and diacrylates, which can be used in a variety ofcombinations. In some embodiments, for example, a polymerizablecomponent comprises one or more of tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate,triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate, laurylmethacrylate, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tricyclodecanedimethanol diacrylate, 2-phenoxyethylacrylate, triethylene glycoldiacrylate, a monofunctional aliphatic urethane acrylate, polypropyleneglycol monomethacrylate, polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate,cyclohexane dimethanol diacrylate, and tridecyl methacrylate.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprises diacrylateand/or dimethacrylate esters of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromaticdiols, including 1,3- or 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol,1,6-hexanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethyleneglycol, polyethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, ethoxylated orpropoxylated neopentyl glycol, 1,4-dihydroxymethylcyclohexane,2,2-bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)propane or bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)methane,hydroquinone, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, bisphenol A, bisphenol F,bisphenol S, ethoxylated or propoxylated bisphenol A, ethoxylated orpropoxylated bisphenol F or ethoxylated or propoxylated bisphenol S.

A polymerizable component, in some embodiments, comprises one or moretri(meth)acrylates. In some embodiments, tri(meth)acrylates comprise1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate or methacrylate, ethoxylated orpropoxylated 1,1,1-trimethylolpropanetriacrylate or methacrylate,ethoxylated or propoxylated glycerol triacrylate, pentaerythritolmonohydroxy triacrylate or methacrylate, or tris(2-hydroxy ethyl)isocyanurate triacrylate.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component of an ink describedherein comprises one or more higher functional acrylates ormethacrylates such as dipentaerythritol monohydroxy pentaacrylate orbis(trimethylolpropane) tetraacrylate. In some embodiments, a(meth)acrylate of an ink has a molecular weight ranging from about 250to 700.

In some embodiments, a polymerizable component comprises allyl acrylate,allyl methacrylate, methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate,n-propyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl(meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate,n-octyl (meth)acrylate, n-decyl (meth)acrylate and n-dodecyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2- and 3-hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl(meth)acrylate and 2- or 3-ethoxypropyl (meth)acrylate,tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate,cyclohexyl methacrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, glycidyl acrylate,isodecyl acrylate, or a combination thereof.

Additional non-limiting examples of species of polymerizable componentsuseful in some embodiments described herein include the following:isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), commercially available from SARTOMER underthe trade name SR 506A; isobornyl methacrylate, commercially availablefrom SARTOMER under the trade name SR 423A; alkoxylatedtetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, commercially available from SARTOMER underthe trade name SR 611; monofunctional urethane acrylate, commerciallyavailable from RAHN USA under the trade name GENOMER 1122; aliphaticurethane diacrylate, commercially available from ALLNEX under the tradename EBECRYL 8402; triethylene glycol diacrylate, commercially availablefrom SARTOMER under the trade name SR 272; triethylene glycoldimethacrylate, commercially available from SARTOMER under the tradename SR 205; tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate, commerciallyavailable from SARTOMER under the trade name SR 833S; tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate triacrylate, commercially available from SARTOMERunder the trade name SR 368; and 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, commerciallyavailable from SARTOMER under the trade name SR 339. Other commerciallyavailable curable materials may also be used.

Carrier inks described herein, in some embodiments, further comprise oneor more additives. In some embodiments, a carrier ink described hereinfurther comprises one or more additives selected from the groupconsisting of photoinitiators, inhibitors, stabilizing agents,sensitizers, and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments,an ink further comprises one or more photoinitiators. Any photoinitiatornot inconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure can beused. In some embodiments, a photoinitiator comprises an alpha-cleavagetype (unimolecular decomposition process) photoinitiator or a hydrogenabstraction photosensitizer-tertiary amine synergist, operable to absorblight preferably between about 250 nm and about 400 nm or between about300 nm and about 385 nm, to yield free radical(s).

Examples of alpha cleavage photoinitiators are Irgacure 184 (CAS947-19-3), Irgacure 369 (CAS 119313-12-1), and Irgacure 819 (CAS162881-26-7). An example of a photosensitizer-amine combination isDarocur BP (CAS 119-61-9) with diethylaminoethylmethacrylate.

In some embodiments, suitable photoinitiators comprise benzoins,including benzoin, benzoin ethers, such as benzoin methyl ether, benzoinethyl ether and benzoin isopropyl ether, benzoin phenyl ether andbenzoin acetate, acetophenones, including acetophenone,2,2-dimethoxyacetophenone and 1,1-dichloroacetophenone, benzil, benzilketals, such as benzil dimethyl ketal and benzil diethyl ketal,anthraquinones, including 2-methylanthraquinone, 2-ethylanthraquinone,2-tert-butylanthraquinone, 1-chloroanthraquinone and2-amylanthraquinone, triphenylphosphine, benzoylphosphine oxides, forexample 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide (Lucirin TPO),benzophenones, such as benzophenone and4,4′-bis(N,N′-dimethylamino)benzophenone, thioxanthones and xanthones,acridine derivatives, phenazine derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives or1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione, 2-O-benzoyl oxime, 1-aminophenyl ketones or1-hydroxyphenyl ketones, such as 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone,phenyl 1-hydroxyisopropyl ketone and 4-isopropylphenyl1-hydroxyisopropyl ketone.

In some cases, suitable photoinitiators comprise those operable for usewith a HeCd laser radiation source, including acetophenones,2,2-dialkoxybenzophenones and 1-hydroxyphenyl ketones, such as1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone or 2-hydroxyisopropyl phenyl ketone(=2-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylacetophenone). Additionally, in some instances,suitable photoinitiators comprise those operable for use with an Arlaser radiation source including benzil ketals, such as benzil dimethylketal. In some embodiments, a photoinitiator comprises anα-hydroxyphenyl ketone, benzil dimethyl ketal or2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide or a mixture thereof.

Another class of suitable photoinitiators, in some cases, comprisesionic dye-counter ion compounds capable of absorbing actinic radiationand generating free radicals for polymerization initiation. In someembodiments, inks containing ionic dye-counter ion compounds can becured more variably with visible light within the adjustable wavelengthrange of about 400 nm to about 700 nm. Some ionic dye-counter ioncompounds and their mode of operation are disclosed in EP-A-0 223 587and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,751,102; 4,772,530; and 4,772,541.

A photoinitiator can be present in an ink described herein in any amountnot inconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, a photoinitiator is present in an ink in an amount of up toabout 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the ink. In someembodiments, a photoinitiator is present in an amount ranging from about0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent.

In some embodiments, an ink further comprises one or more sensitizers. Asensitizer can be added to an ink to increase the effectiveness of oneor more photoinitiators that may also be present. Any sensitizer notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure may be used.In some embodiments, a sensitizer comprises isopropylthioxanthone (ITX).In some embodiments, a sensitizer comprises 2-chlorothioxanthone (CTX).

A sensitizer can be present in an ink in any amount not inconsistentwith the objectives of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, asensitizer is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 weight percentto about 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the ink. Asensitizer, in some embodiments, is present in an amount ranging fromabout 0.5 weight percent to about 1 weight percent.

In addition, an ink described herein, in some embodiments, furthercomprises one or more polymerization inhibitors or stabilizing agents. Apolymerization inhibitor can be added to an ink to provide additionalthermal stability to the composition. Any polymerization inhibitor notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure may be used.In some cases, a polymerization inhibitor comprises methoxyhydroquinone(MEHQ). A stabilizing agent, in some embodiments, comprises one or moreanti-oxidants. A stabilizing agent can comprise any anti-oxidant notinconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. In somecases, suitable anti-oxidants include various aryl compounds, includingbutylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which can also be used as apolymerization inhibitor in some embodiments described herein.

A polymerization inhibitor and/or a stabilizing agent can be present inan ink in any amount not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, a polymerization inhibitor is presentin an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. % or from about0.5 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. Similarly, in some cases, a stabilizingagent is present in an ink in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt. % toabout 5 wt. %, from about 0.5 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, or from about 1wt. % to about 3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ink.

Composite inks described herein can also exhibit a variety of otherdesirable properties. For example, a composite ink described herein canhave any freezing point, melting point, and/or other phase transitiontemperature not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, an ink has freezing and melting pointsconsistent with temperatures used in some 3D printing systems, including3D printing systems designed for use with phase changing inks. In someembodiments, the freezing point of an ink is greater than about 40° C.In some embodiments, for example, an ink has a freezing point centeredat a temperature ranging from about 45° C. to about 55° C. or from about50° C. to about 80° C. In some embodiments, an ink has a freezing pointbelow about 40° C. or below about 30° C.

Further, in some embodiments described herein, a composite ink exhibitsa sharp freezing point or other phase transition. In some cases, forinstance, an ink freezes over a narrow range of temperatures, such as arange of about 1-10° C., about 1-8° C., or about 1-5° C. In someembodiments, an ink having a sharp freezing point freezes over atemperature range of X±2.5° C., where X is the temperature at which thefreezing point is centered (e.g., X=65° C.).

In addition, a composite ink described herein, in some cases, is fluidat jetting temperatures encountered in 3D printing systems. Moreover, insome embodiments, an ink solidifies once deposited on a surface duringthe fabrication of a three-dimensionally printed article or object.Alternatively, in other embodiments, an ink remains substantially fluidupon deposition on a surface. Solidification of an ink, in someembodiments, occurs through a phase change of the ink, such as freezing.The phase change can comprise a liquid to solid phase change or a liquidto semi-solid phase change. Further, in some instances, solidificationof an ink comprises an increase in viscosity, such as an increase inviscosity from a low viscosity state to a high viscosity state.

In some embodiments, a composite ink described herein has a viscosityprofile consistent with the requirements and parameters of one or more3D printing systems. In some embodiments, for instance, an ink describedherein has a viscosity ranging from about 8.0 cP to about 14.0 cP at atemperature of about 80° C. when measured according to ASTM standardD2983 (e.g., using a Brookfield Model DV-II+ Viscometer). In someembodiments, an ink has a viscosity ranging from about 9.5 cP to about12.5 cP at a temperature of about 80° C. An ink, in some embodiments,has a viscosity ranging from about 10.5 cP to about 12.5 cP at atemperature of about 80° C. In some embodiments, an ink has a viscosityranging from about 8.0 cP to about 10.0 cP at a temperature of about85-87° C.

In some embodiments, a composite ink described herein has a viscosityranging from about 8.0 cP to about 19.0 cP at a temperature of about 65°C. measured according to ASTM standard D2983. In some embodiments, anink described herein has a viscosity ranging from about 8.0 cP to about13.5 cP at a temperature of about 65° C. An ink, in some embodiments,has a viscosity ranging from about 11.0 cP to about 14.0 cP at atemperature of about 65° C. In some embodiments, an ink has a viscosityranging from about 11.5 cP to about 13.5 cP or from about 12.0 cP toabout 13.0 cP at a temperature of about 65° C.

Further, composite inks described herein, in some embodiments, exhibit acombination of one or more desirable features. In some embodiments, forinstance, a composite ink in the non-cured state has one or more of thefollowing properties:

-   -   1. Freezing point between about 30° C. and about 65° C.;    -   2. jetting viscosity of about 8 cP to about 16 cP at 70-95° C.;        and    -   3. Thermal stability for at least 3 days at the jetting        temperature.        Viscosity can be measured according to ASTM D2983 (e.g., using a        Brookfield Model DV-II+ Viscometer). In addition, for reference        purposes herein, a “thermally stable” material exhibits no        greater than about a 35 percent change in viscosity over a        specified time period (e.g., 3 days) when measured at the        specified temperature (e.g., a jetting temperature of 85° C.) at        the beginning and at the end of the time period. In some        embodiments, the viscosity change is no greater than about 30        percent or no greater than about 20 percent. In some        embodiments, the viscosity change is between about 10 percent        and about 20 percent or between about 25 percent and about 30        percent. Moreover, in some embodiments, the change in viscosity        is an increase in viscosity.

Composite inks described herein can also exhibit a variety of desirableproperties, in addition to those described hereinabove, in a curedstate. A composite ink in a “cured” state, as used herein, comprises anink that includes a curable material or polymerizable component that hasbeen at least partially polymerized and/or cross-linked. For instance,in some embodiments, a cured ink is at least about 10% polymerized orcross-linked or at least about 30% polymerized or cross-linked. In someembodiments, a cured ink is at least about 50%, at least about 70%, atleast about 80%, or at least about 90% polymerized or cross-linked. Insome embodiments, a cured ink is between about 10% and about 99%polymerized or cross-linked.

Composite inks described herein, in some embodiments, can be produced inany manner not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, for instance, a method for thepreparation of an ink described herein comprises the steps of mixing thecomponents of the ink, melting the mixture, and filtering the moltenmixture. Melting the mixture, in some embodiments, is carried out at atemperature of about 75° C. or in a range from about 75° C. to about 85°C. In some embodiments, an ink described herein is produced by placingall components of the ink in a reaction vessel and heating the resultingmixture to a temperature ranging from about 75° C. to about 85° C. withstirring. The heating and stirring are continued until the mixtureattains a substantially homogenized molten state. In general, the moltenmixture can be filtered while in a flowable state to remove any largeundesirable particles that may interfere with jetting. The filteredmixture is then cooled to ambient temperatures until it is heated in theink jet printer.

III. 3D Printed Articles

In another aspect, 3D printed articles are described herein. 3D printedarticles described herein can be formed by a method describedhereinabove in Section I and/or using a build material describedhereinabove in Section II. For example, in some embodiments, a 3Dprinted article described herein comprises an interior region and acolor skin region disposed over the interior region in a z-direction.The color skin region is formed or defined by a plurality of columns ofvoxels substantially normal to a surface of the article. Further, insome cases, at least one column of voxels exhibits a surface colorresulting from a combination of colors of a plurality of voxels of thecolumn.

The interior region of an article described herein can be the innermostregion of the article in the z-direction (which, as described above, isnormal or substantially normal to an exterior surface of the article).Further, the interior region of an article can have any color and/orother optical property not inconsistent with the objectives of thepresent disclosure. In some cases, for instance, the interior region ofan article described herein is black in color or white in color. Asdescribed above, black-colored interior regions disposed below a colorskin region can serve to darken one or more colors exhibited or producedby the color skin region. Other dark colors in addition to black mayalso be used. Similarly, a white-colored interior region can serve tolighten one or more colors exhibited or produced by the overlying colorskin region. Further, light colors other than white may also be used toachieve a similar effect. Moreover, in some instances, the interiorregion of an article described herein is opaque or optically reflective.An interior region may also be translucent or transparent. In addition,in some embodiments, the interior region of an article described hereinis located or begins at least about 0.5 mm, at least about 1 mm, atleast about 2 mm, at least about 3 mm, or at least about 4 mm beneaththe exterior surface of the article.

As described above in Section I, the color skin region of an articledescribed herein can be formed or defined by a plurality of columns ofvoxels selected and arranged to provide a desired surface color or othervisual surface effect. For instance, in some cases, at least one columnof voxels includes voxels having different color values and/or differenttransparency values. As described above, the use of voxels within asingle column having different color values and/or differenttransparency values can permit the column of voxels to exhibit a widerange of color values and/or other visual effects resulting from thecombination of the visual characteristics of the individual voxels ofthe column. In this manner, full-color colorization schemes, dithering,and/or halftoning can be achieved by varying color in the z-direction ofa 3D printed article. In some embodiments, a column of voxels includestranslucent voxels and opaque voxels, and/or colored voxels andnon-colored voxels. As described above, a colored voxel can be formedfrom a build material including one or more colorants, and a non-coloredvoxel can be formed from a build material that does not comprise acolorant or to which one or more colorants have not been intentionallyadded.

Further, a color skin region of an article described herein can have anydepth or thickness not inconsistent with the objectives of the presentdisclosure. In some cases, a color skin region has a depth or thicknessof at least two voxels in the z-direction. In some embodiments, a colorskin region has a depth or thickness of 2-32 voxels, 2-24 voxels, 2-16voxels, 4-32 voxels, 4-24 voxels, or 4-16 voxels. Other depths orthicknesses are also possible. In some cases, the total depth orthickness of the color skin region is between about 0.03 mm and about 3mm, between about 0.05 mm and about 2.5 mm, or between about 0.05 mm andabout 2 mm. The thickness or depth of a color skin region describedherein can be selected based on a desired color level and/or a desiredcolor profile of the article in the z-direction.

Moreover, in some cases, a 3D printed article described herein furthercomprises one or more additional regions disposed between the color skinregion and the interior region of the article. For example, in someinstances, an article further comprises an opacity skin region and/or areflective skin region disposed between the color skin region and theinterior region of the article in a z-direction. Such an opacity skinregion or reflective skin region can have any property and be formed inany manner described hereinabove in Section I for an opacity skin regionor reflective skin region. For instance, in some embodiments, an opacityskin region of an article described herein is formed from a plurality ofopaque voxels, including a plurality of continuous opaque voxels.Similarly, a reflective skin region, in some cases, is formed from aplurality of reflective voxels such as a plurality of continuousreflective voxels.

In some instances, an opacity skin region and/or a reflective skinregion has a thickness of at least two voxels in the z-direction. Insome cases, an opacity skin region and/or a reflective skin region has athickness of 2-32 voxels, 2-24 voxels, 2-16 voxels, 4-32 voxels, 4-24voxels, or 4-16 voxels. Other thicknesses are also possible. Thethickness or depth of an opacity skin region and/or a reflective skinregion described herein can be selected based on a desired color leveland/or surface effect, as described further herein.

In addition, as described above, one or more portions or regions of a 3Dprinted article described herein can be formed from a build material orcombination of build materials. Any build material not inconsistent withthe objectives of the present disclosure may be used. In some instances,a build material described hereinabove in Section II is used to form oneor more components, regions, or voxels of a 3D printed article describedherein. For example, in some embodiments, at least one build materialused to form the article is optically transparent or substantiallyoptically transparent. Transparent or substantially transparent buildmaterials may be especially suitable for the formation of voxels of acolor skin region described herein. Moreover, it should be noted thatdifferent individual voxels of a column of voxels, or of the color skinregion more generally, may be formed from differing build materials. Inparticular, voxels of a first color can be formed from a first buildmaterial having the first color, and voxels of a second color can beformed from a second build material having the second color. In suchinstances, both build materials can be a build material described inSection II hereinabove, such as a composite ink described in Section II.In some cases, for example, at least one build material used to form thearticle comprises a composite ink comprising an optically transparent orsubstantially optically transparent carrier ink comprising a curablematerial, and a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink in an amount ofabout 0.01 to 5 weight %, based on the total weight of the compositeink. For other components or regions of an article, such as the opacityskin region or the interior region of the article, it may be desirableto use other build materials. For example, in some instances, an opaquebuild material may be used to form the voxels of an opacity skin regionand/or an interior region.

Some embodiments described herein are further illustrated in thefollowing non-limiting examples.

Example 1 3D Colorization

A color 3D article according to one embodiment described herein wasprinted as illustrated in FIG. 5. With reference to FIG. 5, the article(500) comprises a continuous interior region (510) formed from aplurality of opaque white voxels (511) and a color skin region (520)disposed over the interior region (510) in a z-direction (z). The colorskin region (520) is defined by a plurality of columns (530) of voxels(531) substantially normal to a surface (540) of the article (500). Inaddition, at least some of the columns (530) of voxels (531) exhibit asurface color (550) resulting from a combination of the colors of aplurality of the underlying voxels (531). For example, the green surfacecolor of the seventh column in FIG. 5 exhibits a green surface color(550) resulting from the combination of the underlying cyan and yellowvoxels (531). Similarly, the dark pink surface color (550) of the sixthcolumn results from the combination of the underlying magenta and blackvoxels (531).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the interior region (510) and the color skinregion (520) are disposed on a substrate (560). This substrate (560) canbe the build pad of a 3D printing system or a previously deposited layerof build material or support material.

Further, it is to be understood that the surface (540) in FIG. 5 is onlyone exterior surface of the article (500), or one portion of oneexterior surface of the article (500). Additionally, FIG. 5 presents asectional view of the article (500). As described further herein, asimilar method of 3D printing colorization as illustrated for thesurface (540) of FIG. 5 can also be used to provide a desired surfacecolor or surface color map to other exterior surfaces of the article(500). In some cases, all or substantially all of the exterior surfacesor all or substantially all of the exterior surface area of an articledescribed herein can be colorized in a manner similar to that depictedin FIG. 5.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the z-direction (z) normal to thesurface (540) of the article (500) in FIG. 5 is not necessarily thedirection of 3D printing, where the “direction” of 3D printing refers tothe direction in which sequentially deposited layers of build materialare built up to form the 3D article (although this may be the case ifthe substrate (560) is a print pad of a 3D printing system). Instead,the direction of 3D printing may be any direction, as needed or desiredfor printing a 3D article having a desired geometry and surfacecolorization. In general, the article (500) and other articles describedherein can be formed by assigning voxels to an interior region (510), acolor skin region (520), and, if present, an opacity skin region or areflective skin region as part of a rendering step, prior to slicing ofthe object for 3D printing. Thus, in some instances, the thinnestdimension of the slices and/or sequentially deposited layers of thearticle (500) may be oriented perpendicular to the z-direction (z)depicted in FIG. 5, rather than parallel to the z-direction. In thiscase, the color skin region may be located at a perimeter of thesequentially deposited layers. Other orientations are also possible.

Example 2 3D Colorization

As described above, the color uniformity and color accuracy of color 3Darticles described herein can be affected by the alignment of voxels inthe x- and y-directions within a given column. The effect ofmisalignment is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. With reference to FIG. 6,a surface (600) of a 3D printed article in the xy-plane is illustrated.The surface (600) is defined by 64 pixels (represented as squares, 610)in an 8×8 array. Further, the pixels (610) have the same color (depictedin FIG. 6 as a specific shade of gray). Therefore, since there is novariation in color from pixel to pixel, the surface (600) exhibits auniform color. The uniform color of the surface (600) in FIG. 6 isobtained from a plurality of columns of voxels according to someembodiments described herein. It is to be understood that the squaresrepresenting the pixels (610) can also represent the columns of voxels.The columns each include 12 voxels, such that the colorization of anygiven pixel (610) on the surface (600) results from a combination of 12layers of voxels beneath. These layers are shown (in the xy-plane) asLayers 1-12 in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each column includesone colored voxel (depicted as a gray square in a given Layer 1-12) and11 clear or uncolored voxels (depicted as white squares in a given Layer1-12). In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the voxels of each column werecorrectly aligned during printing of successive layers of material, suchthat each column included exactly one colored voxel and exactly 11 clearvoxels.

In contrast, for production of the surface (700) illustrated in FIG. 7,substantial alignment of desired voxels within a given column did notoccur, with the result that the pixels (710) of the surface (700) do nothave a uniform color or appearance, but instead have a non-uniform ormottled appearance. As in FIG. 6, the columns of voxels of FIG. 7 wereintended to each include one colored voxel (depicted as a gray square)and 11 clear voxels (depicted as white squares). However, due tomisalignment of voxels in the x- and y-directions from layer to layerduring printing of the article, the actual result is an irregularsurface (700). Some pixels (710) of the surface (700) are too dark,since the underlying columns of voxels for those pixels contain too manycolored voxels, while other pixels are too light, since the underlyingcolumns of voxels for those pixels contain too few colored voxels. Stillother pixels contain the correct number (one) of colored voxels in theunderlying columns of voxels.

Example 3 Composite Inks

Composite inks according to some embodiments described herein wereprepared as follows. Various commercial pigments were disposed incarrier inks described herein having an optical transparency of over 90%transmission. Specifically, the carrier inks included urethane(meth)acrylate oligomers (15-25 wt. %), non-oligomericmono(meth)acrylates (28-42 wt. %), non-oligomeric di(meth)acrylates(28-36 wt. %), non-oligomeric tri(meth)acrylates (8-12 wt. %),stabilizer (0.1-0.2 wt. %), and photoinitiator (2-4 wt. %). Thecommercial pigments included Sun UVDJ354, Sun UVDJ322, Sun UVDJ150, SunUVDJ350, RJA D3010-FX-Y150, RJA D3410-FX-Y150, and others provided inTable I below. The composite inks were then jetted into layers havingvarious thicknesses and their chromatic properties measured. The chromavalues of some composite inks as a function of layer thickness areplotted in FIG. 8. For a given colorant, the optimum absorption of lightoccurs at a certain amount of colorant. Above this optimum, the colorcan become too dark (when plotted lines begin curving downward). Belowthis optimum, the color can be too light.

Cyan, yellow, and magenta pigment loads were designed to impart themaximum chromaticity at 0.3 mm and 0.15 mm layer thickness. Forblack-colored ink, the pigment load was chosen to impart the maximumoptical density (OD) or the lowest lightness (L*). FIG. 9 illustratesplots of optical density versus layer thickness for variousblack-colored inks. FIG. 10 illustrates plots of lightness versus layerthickness for the same black-colored inks.

Additional results are provided in Table I below.

TABLE I Pigment Loading Amounts wt % for 0.30 wt % for 0.15 mm coloredmm colored Pigment layer layer UVDJ354 (cyan, Sun Chemical) 0.053 0.11UVDJ554 (cyan, Sun Chemical) 0.11 UVDJS554 (cyan, Sun Chemical) 0.11UVDJ150 (yellow, Sun Chemical) 0.069 0.14 UVDJ322 (magenta, SunChemical) 0.059 0.12 UVDJ350 (yellow, Sun Chemical) 0.060 0.12D3010-FX-Y150 (yellow, RJA 0.041 0.082 Dispersions) D3410-FX-Y150(yellow, RJA 0.051 0.10 Dispersions) UVDJ107 (black, Sun Chemical) 0.150.30 D3410-FX-K (black, RJA 0.15 0.30 Dispersions) D3010-FX-K (black,RJA 0.15 0.30 Dispersions) 9B989 (black, Penn Colors) 0.15 0.30 9B898(black, Penn Colors) 0.15 0.30

All patent documents referred to herein are incorporated by reference intheir entireties. Various embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in fulfillment of the various objectives of the invention. Itshould be recognized that these embodiments are merely illustrative ofthe principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications andadaptations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

That which is claimed:
 1. A method of printing a three-dimensionalarticle with a surface colorization, the method comprising: receivingdata representing the surface colorization of the article; transformingthe data representing the surface colorization of the article into voxeldata of the article, the voxel data comprising (a) location values andat least one of (b) color values and (c) transparency values for aplurality of columns of voxels normal to a surface of the article; andselectively depositing layers of one or more build materials onto asubstrate to form the article in accordance with the voxel data, whereinat least one column of the plurality of columns of voxels exhibits asurface color resulting from a combination of colors of at least twovoxels of the column, wherein the at least two voxels of the column eachcontribute to the surface color of the column, and wherein the at leasttwo voxels have different color values and/or different transparencyvalues.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of columns ofvoxels provides an appearance to the surface of the article thatcorresponds to the surface colorization of the article.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the column includes translucent voxels and opaquevoxels.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the column includes coloredvoxels and non-colored voxels.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of columns of voxels define a color skin region of thearticle.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the color skin region of thearticle has a thickness of at least two voxels.
 7. The method of claim5, wherein the color skin region of the article has a thickness of 2-32voxels.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the color skin region of thearticle is formed over an opacity skin region or a reflective skinregion of the article.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the opacityskin region is disposed between the color skin region and an interiorregion of the article in a z-direction.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the opacity skin region of the article is formed from aplurality of opaque voxels.
 11. The method of claim 5, wherein the colorskin region of the article is formed over an interior region of thearticle in a z-direction.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theinterior region is black in color or white in color.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one build material used to form the article isoptically transparent or substantially optically transparent.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the layers of the one or more build materialsare deposited according to an image of the article in a computerreadable format.